Prepping for 1001 Desert Nights in Augusta
March 17, 2010
Tonight has been a flurry of activity.
I am trying frantically to get packed for a mini-vacation in Atlanta before I hit Augusta on Saturday for 1001 Desert Nights. My friends from Columbia, SC will be performing in the show, and I’ll be setting up near the front in the lounge section with my bamboo mat and comfy cushions.
As I am pouring over my supplies and trying to decide what to bring, I thought I’d take a moment to show off a new skill I am working on.
Behold!
Henna Spice Cookies!
Now technically they are just plain old ginger spice cookies that have red food coloring painted on top (no actual henna involved). But they are damn tasty, and fun. They go great with peach white tea, or vanilla soy milk. The original recipe and idea came from Heather Baird over at Sprinkle Bakes. I tried to do the cute little hand-shapes she has on her site, but alas my baking isn’t quite as up to par as my henna… Oh well. 
I’ve procrastinated enough for tonight, I guess. I’ll post some photos from Saturday’s event when I get back. Now I’m off to pack!
Late Night Musings
December 4, 2009
So, I wanted to share a little bit about my other passion, belly dance.
Only a few weeks ago I officially passed my one year dance-iversary. The decision to take up this new art form was rooted in my love of dancing, my need for some physical activity, and the gentle encouragement of friends (who felt my natural rhythm and movement would lend itself easily to this style of dance). Out of this decision to explore the world of tribal fusion belly dance, I have found new friendships, new ways of relating to my body, new outlets for my creative spirit, and ,most importantly, I have found something that enriches my spirit.
My soul-body feels a primal, neolithic urge to dance. When the pounding of drums and the swaying of hips becomes a conversation in motion and sound, I feel connected to something greater than myself, something ancient. I do not mean it lightly when I say that dance enriches my spirit, because some of my most spiritual moments have been while I was dancing: my eyes shut to the world around me, my body ensnared by the beat, and my spirit transcending. Dancing is extremely personal for me, a devotional experience.
In the past year I have seen my body transformed by the push and pull of muscles I barely knew I had. I have felt the accomplishment of figuring out new ways of moving within my own skin, and I have come to a better understanding and appreciation of my own physicality. The “me” I have longed to see in the mirror is starting to stretch and yawn his way into being, and I am thrilled.
In January, I will perform publicly for the first time since I began my journey. I will be surrounded by friends and a supportive community of dancers, and I cannot wait to share with them what I have learned. I will be performing with my teacher and troupe director Deedee, my dear friend Alexandra, and my husband Eric, together we are Eclypse. I am amazed by what we have been able to do together, and excited to see what the next year will bring.
Prepping for the Moondance Festival
May 18, 2009
Well, I have just 3 days left to get everything ready for Moondance in Carrollton. I have a ton of henna that needs mixing, and a workshop to plan. Hopefully all goes well and this ends up being an amazing weekend. This will be my second trip to Carrollton for one of their gatherings, but this is my first time vending at a major festival. I would be lying to say that I’m not a little nervous.
For my workshop I plan on focusing on the creation of meaningful patterns and the use of symbols in henna. The workshop will deal primarily with design and application, with some introductory notes on mixing and terping of the henna. I plan on taking my camera, so hopefully I’ll be soon making some additional posts to my gallery.
I will also be looking forward to busting out some of my new bellydance moves during the drum circles that will be happening each night of the festival. Wish me luck, and I’ll be back to report on all the fun next week.
